Corn-htjsker



HEATONGL CLARK.

Corn, Hissker. I

Patented Jan. 19,1858.

UNITE STATES PATET OFFTC JOHN D. HEATON AND W. A. CLARK, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS.

CORN-HUSKER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,142, dated January 19, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN D. HEA'roN and WILLIAM A. CLARK, of Dixon, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented and made certain Improvements in Machines for Husking Corn; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1 being a perspective view of the machine complete Fig. 2, the knife.

Our improvements consist in the especial combination and arrangement of certain peculiarly constructed devices; and the better to enable others to understand the nature, construction and operation of said improvements we describe them in detail as follows:

A suitable frame formed of a longitudinal piece of timber from three to four feet long is mortised into or attached substantially to a traverse piece from one and a half to two feet long, in the shape shown in Fig. 1, A, A, A, B, B, and this simple frame (of a long piece and a cross end piece as shown,) is supported by two legs attached to the cross end, and one leg attached to end of the long timber. To this frame, are attached the devices, composed of a hammer or striker H H formed with a concave or hollow face as at H This hammer or striker is provided with a suitable handle A and which handle is supported by two standards or bearings B B the hammer to be of metal, the handle of wood. To the left side of the hammer is attached what may be designated as a concussion striker N, which also has a concave like face. This striker N has a short handle, through which a bolt or screw passes connecting it with the hammer. Said striker is sustained by a spring rest O, shown by dots. On the right hand side of the end of the handle A is what may be termed a staple arm O, O The arm part O having attached to it a rod L, extending forward toward the front end of the machine. The extremity of this rod is notched or so formed as to rest on and actuate a small roller L shown by dots. This roller is arranged parallel with the front of the frame, and attached underneath the frame, and supported by bearings M M and surrounded by a helical or spiral spring N To this roller, is affixed, two fingers, or rods P P P forming a fork like device, one

prong of which is arranged on the out-side of the frame work, while the other prong passes up through an opening Q formed in the frame .work. This double prong device or fork, is designed to relieve the machine of long butts, or stalks, to which the ears and husks are frequently attached. One prong could not perform the office desired. WVithin the opening Q,, to the side of the long piece A, A, A, is screwed or bolted a vertically adjusted knife J, J having a rounded cutting end, formed and running off with sloping shoulders as in Fig. 2, and shown partly in Fig. 1. On the right of this peculiarly formed knife, is a device which may be termed an accommodating, yielding rest or bolster R, formed of a flat thin strip of metal, in form somewhat of a half journal box, curved in the center with straight ends, which are bored or punched, and through which holes pass upwardly vertical guide rods R R, which are inserted in the top of the frame. To the convex or underside of this bolster R, is aflixed a rod and spiral spring S, the rod and fpring passing down into a socket, or bore it formed in the frame of the machine. spiral spring is supported beneath on a plate attached to the bottom of the frame, while the rod extends down through the plate and Working freely admits of the rising and falling of the bolster B when desired.

On the left hand side of the knife J, J is a small platform, J (added to the side of the long rail or sill A, A,) and this platform is also formed in part by a short additional rail K K framed into the end or cross piece B, B and another piece 9 To this short rail K K is attached a rigid bolster or rest D, formed concave as shown. In serted a short distance from the knife in the long rail or sill A A, is an upright or standard G, on the rear side of which is attached a small. wheel or band pulley P. Next is a slitting rod E attached to the framing by an upright peg 8 shown in dots. This peg is screwed onto the side of the framing or may be inserted therein in any suitable way. This peg s is the joint. or pivot on which the slitting rod E works. To the front end of this rod E, is a lance point or small slitting blade K, situated immediately under the hammer H, H, H The slitting rod E is supported near its butt end by a projection strip U, U. The lance, or

The i slitting blade end is maintained in position by a staple I formed with a notch or catch place 1 In contact with the slitting rod E is a spring 8, attached to the framing. Near the slitting end of the rod E is attached a pulling thong M, M, which passes under and around upward and attached by its other end to the side of the hammer H, H. Thus is completed the whole mechanical contrivance.

The operation is as follows: The person to husk, stands on the side of the machine at WV, and taking hold of the helve or handle A raises it, and having the unhusked corn convenient, an earat a time, is picked up and having the butt or stub end toward the knife, the incased ear is placed across the bolsters D R, the butt end. of the ear resting in a line as near as possible against the cutting blade J, J. This done, the hammer, H, H, H is let fall when the stub or butt is severed from the ear, and at the same time the husk is split lengthwise on the under side by the lateral movement back and forth of the slitting blade or lance knife K. The action of which slitting blade or lance knife is caused by being drawn to the right through means of the thong or strap M, connecting with the hammer, H, H, H in lifting it. The reaction or return of the slitting blade or lance knife is caused by the action of the spring S, and the concussion of the kicked off entirely from the frame forward by the prongs R R they being actuated by the rod L.

It will be observed the standard or stop G, prevents the hammer H, H from touching or coming in close contact with the cutting edge of the knife J, J, the sloping shoulders of which, support the detached husk, and prevent it falling with the ear.

WVhat we claim as new and of our own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The hammers H and N, the bolsters or rests R D, in combination with the knives J J, and E, K, and double prong fork P when the whole is constructed and arranged for joint operation in the manner, and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN D. HEATON. W M. A. CLARK.

Witnesses:

A. J. PINKHAM, JOHN STEVEN. 

